Pneumatic separator.



M. F. WILUAMS.

PNEUMATIC SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22, 1915i Patented July 31, 1917.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mrox I. WILLIAMS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR '10 WIIIIIILIS PATENT OBUSHEB AND PULVEBIZEB COMPANY, OF SI. LOUIS, MISSOURI. A CORPORA- non or mssom "-rnnumnrxc snraan'ron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed September 28, 1915. Serial No. 52,087.

To all'whomit may concern: v

Be it known that I, MILTON F. Wmnmms, a citizen of the United States, resid ng at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Separators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrl tion, such as will enable others sk1lled.1n t e art to-which it appertains .to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of th1s specification.

This invention relates to separators of the type commonly known as cyclone separators, the purpose and function of which are to cause the precipitation or separation of particles from a current of air in which they are transported.

The present invention has for 1ts 0b ect the provision of an improved form of separator WlllChzhflS an externally opening vent as a safeguard against explosionsand fire, and which, at the same time, is so constructed as to prevent the escape or egress of any of the fine material through such vent.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the operation of the separator may be regulated to secure proper action on materials of different weight.

. One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section on a diameter of the separator;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the arrangement of the separator in a reducing system;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the separator taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.-

By reference to these drawings, it will be understood that the numeral 1 designates the body portion of the separator, said body portion being frusto-conical in form, its lower walls sloping downwardly in the form of a funnel leading to a material discharge pipe 2. The injection pipe 4 leads into the body portion at its upper extremity, said pipe entering tangentiall of the curved side of the body portion. 'l his injection pipe leads from a 'blower or fan 5 which is operable to force a stream of air through the pipe 4,

which stream of air is effective to convey any light material, such as ground stuff.

from the mill 6, into the separator. The tangential arrangement of the injection pipe relative to'the separator body, causes the air in the latterto assume a whirling or cyclonic movement, which carries the hea material in the air to the outside of the whirl, causmg it to impinge on the side of the separator body and be precipitated into pipe 2. I This is a function well known in the art- I a.

In the top of the body portion 1, and on the vertical axis thereof, is disposed a withdrawal pipe 7 thelower portion of which projects a substantial distance down into body portion 1. At one or more points about its periphe the withdrawal pipe 7 is provided with spouts 8, disposed exter nally of the bod portion, and leading to return pipes 9. hese pipes lead back to the suction side of the fan or blower 5, so that a produced through the withdrawal from the interior of the body porsuction is pipe 7 tion 1.

Within'the withdrawal pipe 7, and concentric therewith, but spaced apart there from, is the vent pipe 10. This vent pipe is adjustable vertically within the withdrawal pipe, having a close slip-joint at 10, and

carries at its lower end a. diaphragm 11. This diaphragm is suspended from and spaced apart from the lower extremity of vent pipe10 by brackets 12, and it is of equal or greater diameter than the withdrawal pipe 7. Consequently, vertical adj ustment of the vent pipe 10 brings the lower end thereof nearer to or farther from the lower end of withdrawal pipe 7 and at the same time brings diaphragm 11 farther from or nearer to the lower extremityof the withdrawal pipe. Adjustment of vent pipe 10 is secured by means of bolts 14 which extend through slots in the air discharge pipe 15 which pipe extends out of the buildmg and opens mto the air, the slots beingcovered by sliding plates 16. Of course, any other suitable adjusting and securing means may be employed.

By this arrangement, it will be observed, the separator is in constant communication with the open air through vent pipe 10 and discharge pipe 15. Y

In operation the blower, as above de-. scribed, forces into the separator a current of air carrying fine material, and produces also a constant suction through withdrawal pipe 7 exterior of vent pipe 10. The most separator is never completely still and the light material is not so subject to the centrifugal action of the whirl. Naturally this light material will gather at the inner por-' tion of the whirl, on the general axis of the withdrawal pipe 7. Here it will be caught by the suction current through pipe 7, and be drawn out of the separator throu h withdrawal pipe 7 and return pipes 9. as finds outlet through vent pipe 10 is free from material, for the reason that the strong current through withdrawal pipe 7 will draw material away from the opening of the vent pipe. In case of an explosion, however, vent pipe 10 provides an open outlet for the escape of pressure, and in ordinary operation this vent pipe provides an escapement for any superfluous pressure.

The adjustability of vent pipe 10 and diaphragm 11 is to regulate the strength of the current through the lower orifice of withdrawal pipe 7. The raising of the lower end of vent pipe 10 within withdrawal pipe 7 allows more opportunity for the outward movement of material away from the vent pipe and into the withdrawal Pipe, and at the same time the nearer the diaphragm is placed to the end of the withdrawal pipe, the greater will be the force of the draft into the latter from the separator. Hence the more eifective will be the withdrawal operation in taking up the light material and preventing its egress through the vent pipe. These adjustments of the vent pipe and diaphragm are .such as the condition of the material, or the operation of the blower, demand.

As a result of this operation, all the material carried into the scparator is collected, that which is carried back to the blower through return pipe 9 ultimately being precipitated due to the increase of weight of the particles occasioned by a number of them collecting and sticking together. Consequently, there is no escape of dust or light uch air material into the open air. At the same time, however, an open vent is maintained, which allows for the escape of superfluous pressure, and forms a safety device in case of an explosion.

I am aware that the device herein illustrated and described is susceptible of changes and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A separator comprising the combination of a chamber, said chamber being r0- vided with a discharge aperture at its ottom and an axially disposed withdrawal aperture at its top, a vent pipe communicating with the chamber within the area of the withdrawal aperture and leading to the open air, a diaphragm adjustable to and from the withdrawal aperture, an injection pipe for conducting a current of air into the chamber tangentially relative to the withdrawal aperture, and means for withdrawing air from the chamber through the withdrawal aperture about the vent pipe.

2. A separator comprising the combination of a chamber of clrcular cross sectional form, an axially disposed material discharge pipe communicating with the bottom of the chamber, an externally closed axially disposed withdrawal pipe communicating with the chamber at the top thereof, an externally opening vent pipe communicating with the chamber within the area of the withdi'awal pipe and spaced apart therefrom, said vent pipe being adjustable relative to the lower extremity of the withdrawal pipe, and a bafile supported below the withdrawal pipe and adjustable relative to the lower extremity thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of September, 1915.

" MILTON F. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

M. P. SMITH, C. S. Burner. 

